On Wednesday, May 21, world-renowned sculptor Timothy Schmalz’s Last Supper sculpture was dedicated at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica in Youngstown. Schmalz’s Last Supper is one of seven sculptures located in the city of Youngstown, making Youngstown one of the few cities worldwide to have more than six. The dedication took place surrounded by parishioners and clergy, including Bishop David Bonnar, who defined the sculpture as a visual representation of the Gospel that “goes beyond our ears and penetrates our hearts.”
Last Supper is a bronze statue depicting Jesus sitting at an empty table, a contrast to the well-known visual that also includes the twelve Apostles. Schmalz said he hopes that people realize the empty seats are for them, and that the open seats present an opportunity to become closer to Jesus. “When no one is sitting around these seats, Jesus is lonely, and we have to take up and be the apostles of Christ,” he said.
To Schmalz, modern faith is collaborative, and he said his unique take on one of the most popular representations in Western culture invites parishioners and viewers to embrace their faith as something other than static. “By bringing new pieces that challenge you, like the Last Supper with twelve empty seats, it sends the message that Christianity is not complete until it has living people of today,” he said.
Schmalz’s sculptures can be found all over the world, including St. Peter’s Square in Rome as well as at Cathedral Square in Hong Kong. Most of his pieces are placed near and around church entrances, a purposeful choice that he said serves as one of the most powerful methods of evangelization. In fact, his statue, Homeless Jesus, can be found near the entrance to St. Columba Cathedral in Youngstown. “[The sculptures] bring the Gospels to life through artwork, and I think that today, we need as many ways to evangelize as possible. The message of the bronze sculptures preaches 24/7,” he said.
All of Schmalz’s sculptures are created using the lost-wax process, a method of sculpting that dates back to the third millennium B.C. This multi-step method involves creating a mold from clay followed by casting it in bronze. Creating new sculptures can take anywhere from a few days to a few years, depending on size and detail. For Schmalz, the labor is worth what he defined as the opportunity to create pieces that serve as “visual ambassadors of what’s going on inside the church.”
Bishop Bonnar invited the community to take the time to sit at the table with Jesus and remember His love for all people: “Just gaze at that for a moment, and ask yourself, ‘What do I see?’ What I see is Jesus waiting for us to be with Him, wanting us to be with Him,” he said during his homily. Schmalz said he believes Last Supper carries the message of the Gospel that can be internalized with even just a simple glance. The statue is located near the back of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Basilica at 343 Via Mount Carmel Avenue in Youngstown, and it is open to the public. To learn more about Schmalz and his artwork, visit his website.
